Chapter 54 - Absence

When I walked to work, I didn't notice anything usual despite me being a few minutes late, they were working quietly and seemed way too focused for the usual.

"Good morning, Lily." Simon's voice was heard from my office and my heart jumped in my throat, I am flooded with worry.

I never arrived late at work and the first time I did, I found none other than my boss there. I sighed, now I understood why everyone was so engaged in their jobs.

"Good morning," I swallowed down, holding my breath in the hope he wouldn't scold me.

A smile appeared on his face and I took a long relieved breath, "Cameron told me you're doing a good job. I can't wait to see the results!" He exclaimed, his gaze darted at the threshold and he waved, I unconsciously turned around to see who walked in and I recognized Cameron's expectant beautiful dark eyes on me. My heart was jitterying in his presence.

"Yes, we're working together very well." Cameron walked in with a huge smile on his face, his presence filled the room and the familiar Hugo Boss elusive scent pacified my senses.

I cleared my voice, "Indeed, unexpectedly well." I confirmed, but when Cameron heard my choice of words, he raised his eyebrow in anticipation.

"I will let you two work, then. Have a great day!" Simon cheered before walking away. As soon as the door closed and Cameron and I remained alone Cameron leaned forward to whisper, "unexpectedly well?"

I laughed, I couldn't believe he was offended because I had called our combination unexpectedly effective.

"Stop being so dramatic," I said gently pushing him and rolling my eyes.

We sat at my desk and I turned on the pc, I pulled my hair back and took a long breath, "my friend just arrived in town and I am letting her stay at my place for a while."

He started to scroll through his emails, "hmmm hmm."

"I was wondering if you knew someone who looks for inexperienced chefs."

He looked at me frowning confused, "an inexperienced chef? That's weird."

"I know, she is very good and I am sure she would love to work as a chef, she just needs to find the right occasion."

He gave me an even more skeptical gaze, "what if she doesn't want to do it? You should know very well that it takes a lot of dedication to be successful in a job."

He took a breath and then finally nodded, offering me a shy smile. "Fine, I will see what I can do." He tilted his head to the side and poked my cheek giggling lightly, "make me a smile now, I haven't seen your smile in a whole day."

I curved my lips up in a smile and his face lightened up in a smile.

"I missed it," he whispered, my heart speeded in my chest. I always had felt like my chest was filled with a permanent emptiness and I couldn't find that void in any way. Somehow, for a millisecond the emptiness was filled by his warm smile and everything felt just right.

"So, no Patricia today?" I asked, pointing at the empty chair where Patricia was sitting a few days ago.

He shook his head, "luckily not, she came yesterday and tried to ask me if I wanted to see her for a coffee."

Why wasn't I surprised? Probably I would be even more surprised if she didn't take advantage of my absence.

"Of course, I had to refuse her gentle offer since my attention only belong to one girl."

I had to bow down to hide my shyness since I blushed to assume that girl was probably me.

"I have to leave now, a client of mine did mess up and I have my phone filled with missed calls since this morning." He rolled his eyes and scoffed, then he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my cheek, after making sure nobody saw. "See you tomorrow."

I smiled at him and watched him walking away, despite his busy day he still managed to come to my office just to check if I showed up today and if I was okay, Carl never set foot in my office even after fighting.

I sighed and took a deep breath, getting back to work and from time to time taking some rest to search for places where Joanna could work or train as a chef.

Maybe I was in the wrong to take such an important decision like her future job for her, but sending her curriculum around wasn't a bad idea.

I scrolled through a restaurant's site, as I scrolled down I noticed a help wanted sign.

I clicked on the more information button and as I skimmed through my eyes lit up, they were looking for inexperienced people!

I clapped my hands and smiled hugely in joy, then I pressed the apply now button.

I filled out the application fastly until I found the field: 'write your motivation to work with us

That field took me aback for some instants, what motivation could she have to apply for a job?

I swallowed down and scratched my forehead in search of answers, she probably wouldn't have any sense I am applying for her.

I started to press the keyboard and stared at the screen while the letters appeared on the screen forming my made-up answer.

'I want to make my work my passion, I always loved to cook for my loved ones because I think food can make someone's day. I want to drive my clients back to their families' memories with my simple yet tasteful dish.'

I hope this would work, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I pressed the send application button.

I skimmed through the whole filled application, after making sure every field was filled I mentally made a wish that she wouldn't get mad in case the job hired her.

Sent.